Blackpool lost 3-2 away to Wigan Athletic in their opening EFL Trophy group game. The result extends a difficult recent run, with the Seasiders now 15th in League One after taking just one point from their last five league outings.
Manager Ian Evatt made three substitutions at halftime at the Brick Community Stadium. Assistant coach Stephen Crainey explained the decisions were driven by a need for fresh impetus and to protect an injured player.
"We felt like we needed some energy on the pitch," Crainey said. Middlesbrough loanee Finley Munroe was withdrawn after suffering a severe dead leg in the opening minutes. "Finley (Munroe) had a little knock, as you saw in the first half, so we wanted to protect him."
The other two changes saw Zac Ashworth and Theo Upton replaced for tactical reasons. The 18-year-old Upton, on loan from AFC Fylde, has impressed staff with his attitude since arriving last month. Crainey praised the teenager's pre-season performances.
Connor Barrett had given Blackpool an early lead, with Scott Hogan adding a second after the break. Wigan responded with goals from Tom Bloxham, Fraser Murray and a late Jerry Yates strike to secure a 3-2 win. The defeat leaves Blackpool with work to do in a group that also includes Crewe Alexandra and Aston Villa's under-21s, with both of those fixtures to be played at Bloomfield Road next month.
Attention now turns back to League One, where Blackpool sit on eight points from seven games. The team's current form and injury situation is tracked on our stats section, which shows the squad has conceded 11 goals in the league. The immediate focus is on the next fixture, a trip to 20th-placed Notts County this weekend. Blackpool will be aiming to improve on their current average of 1.14 points per game in that match, which you can preview on our fixtures page.
More detail at Blackpool Gazette
